The Fouling Problem

Basic challenge

Reducing the negative impact of fouling on vessel wet surfaces.

Any object placed into water will immediately be exposed to fouling, developing in stages from slime, over algae’s to barnacles. As the fouling develops the substances gets harder and the extent of the fouling increases. The fouling develops in different phases depending on the water salinity, the temperature and the light.

This is the basic condition of shipping and the main negative consequence is increased hydro resistance leading to increased fuel consumption. Among other negative effects are the impacts on the environment.

It’s a phenomenon that has been addressed for centuries, but never eliminated. The generally applied resolution is the usage of toxic paint systems, however the most effective have been banned due to the negative environmental impact. Even applying the best paint systems tolerated by authorities, fouling will develop.

According to independent sources (several available on the intranet) about 5-10% average additional fuel consumption can be saved by removing the fouling through cleaning of the wet surfaces. For a large container vessel this easily corresponds to an annual saving of USD 500.000.

Available solutions

Solutions with negative side effects.

Ship Owners are currently facing major challenges in getting their vessels optimally cleaned due to inadequate hull cleaning technology available and lack of services in ports of call. Ship owners are therefore often forced to prematurely dry dock their vessels to remove fouling and renew the paint. The only alternative is in water hull cleaning with simple diver operated brushes.

The dry-docking is expensive and time consuming forcing the vessel out of service for extended time, with negative spill over effect on the shipping lines planning and scheduling.

The diver operated hull cleanings are generally not allowed by Port Authorities due to safety concerns, forcing the ship owner to take the vessels out of service at off port anchorages. Availing of the diver-operated brushes for hull cleaning, harms the hull coating systems and the paint will degenerate faster after a diver hull cleaning.

Conclusion

Fouling is a recognized reality for vessel efficiency, and existing technologies are not optimally addressing it.

Availing of advanced technology from the offshore Oil & Gas sector for hull cleaning is the future solution. C-LEANSHIP AS is in the forefront in this development.

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